Environmental conditioning methods and apparatus for improved materials

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for effecting sample-specific cycles for the environmental conditioning of material samples, such as cotton samples, prior to testing; and for the environmental conditioning of testing laboratory space, a sub-space or 'oasis zone' within the testing laboratory space and/or a test zone within a testing machine. A sensor measures at least one material property of the sample, such as moisture content of a cotton sample. Based on the material property, a sample-specific conditioning cycle is determined and effected by driving through the sample a gas flow conditioned as to at least one parameter which affects properties of the sample, such as a temperature, relative humidity, and volume per unit time, and all of which are relevant in the case of a cotton sample. The determined conditioning cycle is a cycle which causes the sample to be conditioned to an optimum state for testing, and includes a sequence of time intervals in which sequence at least one of the selected parameters varies from one time interval to the next. A combination sample conditioning and air conditioning machine includes an environmental chamber for conditioning a sample for testing, and conditioned air discharge ports for directing conditioned air to the testing laboratory space, the oasis zone, and the test zone, as well as a return air port. Gas flow conditioning apparatus directs conditioned gas flows through the environmental conditioning chamber and out through the conditioned air discharge port.